Iran says it has developed long-range cruise missile

DUBAI - Iran has developed a cruise missile with a range of 1,650km, a top Revolutionary Guards commander said on Friday, in a move likely to raise Western concerns after Russia’s use of Iranian drones in the Ukraine war.

Separately, Mr Amirali Hajizadeh, the head of the Revolutionary Guards aerospace force, also spoke of Iran’s often repeated threat to avenge the US killing of a top Iranian commander, saying: “We are looking to kill (former United States president Donald) Trump.”

“Our cruise missile with a range of 1,650km has been added to the missile arsenal of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Mr Hajizadeh told state TV.

The television station broadcast what it said was the first footage showing the new Paveh cruise missile.

Mr Hajizadeh said Iran did not intend to kill “poor soldiers” when it launched a ballistic missile attack on US-led forces in Iraq days after Iranian military commander

Qassem Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike in 2020

in Baghdad.

“God willing, we are looking to kill Trump. (Former secretary of state Mike) Pompeo… and military commanders who issued the order (to kill Soleimani) should be killed,” Mr Hajizadeh said in the television interview.

Iranian leaders have often vowed to avenge the general’s death in strong terms.

Iran has expanded its missile programme, particularly its ballistic missiles, in defiance of opposition from the US and expressions of concern by European countries.

Teheran says the programme is purely defensive and of a deterrent nature.

Iran has said it supplied Moscow with drones before the war in Ukraine. Russia has used the drones to target power stations and civilian infrastructure.

In November, the Pentagon said the US was sceptical of reports quoting Mr Hajizadeh as saying

Iran had developed a hypersonic ballistic missile.

REUTERS